Wireless media player

ABSTRACT

A wireless device, such as a mobile phone, and a method for operating the wireless device to access a media option in a media player, comprising the steps of: 
     providing a list of different media options, where each option includes a media channel or item; 
     selecting a media channel or item to present; 
     scanning a plurality of different types of radio signal bearers for detecting access of the selected media channel or item; 
     selecting one of said different types of bearers in accordance with stored selection criteria; 
     presenting the media channel or item as received over the selected bearer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to media players configured to receivewireless media signals, and to convert them to user perceivable media,such as audio or video. More specifically, the invention relates to awireless device in which a media options list, such as a play list or achannel list may be used to scan received media signals for presentationof media to a user according to user preferences in a transparent way.

BACKGROUND

Portable media players have been provided on the market for decades.Portable radio receivers for tuning in to broadcast radio transmissionshave been available for many decades. The portable cassette playerbecame popular in the late 1970:s, whereas portable CD and MD playerstook over the market at the later part of the 20^(th) century. Today,the physical media carrier is becoming more and more rare, and media iscommonly stored and shared in the shape of media files. For audio mp3 isan MPEG format which is often used, particularly for music, and thereare also MPEG formats used for video. An electronic device configured toread a media file and convert it to a perceivable signal, such as soundor images, will simply be referred to herein as a media player.

The common way of operating portable media players is to incorporatesome form of re-writable memory, such as an insertable memory card or abuilt-in memory connectable to a computer for downloading media files.The memory size of the media player then determines e.g. how many musictracks that can be stored, together with the fact that higher qualityfiles generally are larger in terms of required memory space.

In addition to live broadcast transmissions and locally stored media,another way of receiving media has become popular, and that is streamingmedia. Streaming media is media that is consumed, i.e. read, heard,viewed, while it is being delivered. Streaming is more a property of thedelivery system than the media itself. The distinction is usuallyapplied to media that are distributed over computer networks or radiocommunications networks such as 3G mobile networks.

The benefit of having many different ways of accessing media alsocreates problems, since ease of use for the end consumer is a crucialobjective. Its is common practice today to create playlists for storedmedia files, and also channel lists for receivable broadcast or streamedmedia channels. However, to combine different sources of information,and to process media received signals, is no easy task. Nor is itstraightforward for the end consumer how to operate the wireless deviceto select channels and types of media transmission for accessing media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A general object of the invention is therefore to provide a solution forwireless media players in terms of handling playlists or channel lists,such that an underlying object of accessing certain media channels ormedia items is achieved in a transparent way.

According to a first aspect, this object is fulfilled by a wirelessdevice, comprising a media player; a radio signal receiver systemconfigured to receive media signals; a controller comprising a memorycomprising a list of different media options, and a media scannerconfigured to scan the radio signal receiver system to detect mediacontent associated with the media options.

In one embodiment the wireless device comprises a user interface,wherein the controller is configured to output an alert signal throughthe user interface to indicate that media content associated with themedia options list has been detected by the media scanner.

In one embodiment the media options includes a plurality of differentmedia channels, the device comprising a user interface including adisplay operable to present a list of media channels, wherein thecontroller is configured to highlight a media channel on the displayresponsive to the media scanner detecting reception of that mediachannel.

In one embodiment the media channels include radio channels.

In one embodiment the media channels include video channels.

In one embodiment the media options includes a plurality of differentmedia items, the device comprising a user interface including a displayoperable to present a list of media items, wherein the controller isconfigured to highlight a media item on the display responsive to themedia scanner detecting reception of that media item.

In one embodiment the media items include audio tracks.

In one embodiment the media items include video tracks.

In one embodiment the wireless device comprises a media recorderconfigurable to automatically record a media item identified in themedia options list, upon the controller detecting reception of thatmedia item.

In one embodiment the controller is configured to add a link in themedia options list to the recorded media item.

In one embodiment the wireless device comprises a user interfaceoperable to add a buy tag to a media item in the media options list,wherein the controller is configured to access a media store through themedia receiver system to download media data corresponding to mediaitems marked by a buy tag.

In one embodiment the wireless device comprises a media outputconfigured to present received media to a user.

In one embodiment the media output comprises a display.

In one embodiment the media output comprises a speaker.

In one embodiment the media output comprises a connector to an externalmedia presentation device.

In one embodiment the radio signal receiver system comprises a pluralityof different radio signal receivers configured to receive differenttypes radio transmission.

In one embodiment the plurality of different radio signal receivers areconfigured to receive media signals in different radio bands.

In one embodiment the plurality of radio signal receivers comprises afirst radio signal receiver configured to receive broadcast media; asecond radio signal receiver configured to receive streaming media.

In one embodiment the plurality of radio signal receivers comprises aradio signal receiver configured to receive podcast media.

In one embodiment the wireless device comprises a user interfaceoperable to select a media channel from the list of media options; achannel selector connected to the media scanner, configured to selectreception of the media channel from one of the radio signal receivers.

In one embodiment a media channel is associated with a specific key ofthe wireless device, independent of the type of radio signal receiver.

In one embodiment the channel selector is configured to select radiosignal receiver for reception of the media channel in a preset order ofpreference.

In one embodiment the channel selector is configured to look forreception of a broadcast FM radio signal as a higher ranking choice, astreamed media signal as a lower ranking choice.

In one embodiment the channel selector is configured to look forreception of a podcast media signal, as a lower ranking choice than astreamed media signal.

According to a second aspect, the invention involves a method foraccessing a media channel in a wireless media player, comprising thesteps of:

-   -   providing a list of different media options, where each option        includes a media channel;    -   selecting a media channel to present;    -   receiving the media channel through a plurality of different        types of radio signal receivers;    -   selecting one of said different types of radio signal receivers        in accordance with stored selection criteria;    -   presenting the media channel as received the selected radio        signal receiver.

In one embodiment a media channel is associated with a specific key ofthe wireless device, independent of the type of radio signal receiver.

In one embodiment the step of selecting one of said different types ofradio signal receivers includes the steps of:

-   -   selecting a broadcasted signal of the media channel as a higher        ranking choice, and    -   selecting a streaming media signal of the media channel as a        lower ranking choice.

In one embodiment the step of selecting one of said different types ofradio signal receivers includes the steps of:

-   -   selecting a broadcasted signal of the media channel as a highest        ranking choice,    -   selecting a streaming media signal of the media channel received        through a mobile telephony network as a second ranking choice.

In one embodiment the step of selecting one of said different types ofradio signal receivers includes the steps of:

-   -   selecting a streaming media signal of the media channel received        through a WLAN as a third ranking choice.

In one embodiment the step of selecting one of said different types ofradio signal receivers includes the steps of:

-   -   selecting a podcast of the media channel as a lowest ranking        choice.

In one embodiment the method comprises the step of:

-   -   scanning said plurality of different types of radio signal        receivers for the selected media channel.

According to a third aspect, the invention involves a method foraccessing a media channel in a wireless media player, comprising thesteps of:

-   -   providing a playlist of different media options, where each        option includes a media item;    -   detecting access to one of the media items of the playlist        channel through a radio signal receiver;    -   outputting an access indication signal on a user interface to        alert a user that said media item is accessible.

In one embodiment the step of outputting an access indication signalcomprises the step of:

-   -   presenting a highlighted indication of said media item on a        display.

In one embodiment a media item is associated with a specific key of thewireless media player, independent of the type of radio signal receiver.

In one embodiment the step of outputting an access indication signalcomprises the step of:

-   -   outputting an audible alert signal.

In one embodiment the step of detecting access comprises the steps of:

-   -   scanning a plurality of different types of radio signal        receivers for access to media items of the playlist.

In one embodiment the step of detecting access comprises the steps of:

-   -   scanning a plurality of different media channels for access to        media items of the playlist.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention involves a method foraccessing media channel in a wireless media player, comprising the stepsof:

-   -   providing a playlist of different media options, where each        option includes a media item;    -   detecting access to one of the media items of the playlist        channel through a streaming radio signal receiver;    -   recording the media item to a media file memory responsive to        detecting access.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The features and advantages of the present invention will be moreapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimentswith reference to the accompanying drawings, on which

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system setup for a wireless mediaplayer incorporated in a mobile phone, and the possible accessconnection for reception of media to the media player, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates functional blocks of a wireless mediaplayer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically illustrate a method of handling a playlist,and a method of alerting a user of a presently accessible media item inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart schematically illustrating an example of how anembodiment of the invention may be used for receiving and presentingmedia in a terminal;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a mobile phone configured to receiveand present video with shortcut keys;

FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically illustrate a mobile phone configured toreceive and present video with shortcut keys presented on a touchscreen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present description relates to the field of media players capable ofwireless reception of media signals. The invention will be described inthe context of a mobile phone, which is best known mode of operation.However, it should be noted that the media player may indeed be capableof receiving wireless media signals without having real communicationcapabilities, i.e. be capable of reception but not transmission.Furthermore, it should be emphasized that the term comprising orcomprises, when used in this description and in the appended claims toindicate included features, elements or steps, is in no way to beinterpreted as excluding the presence of other features elements orsteps than those expressly stated.

Exemplary embodiments will now be described with references made to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the outer appearance of a typical mobile phone inwhich a media player according to the invention may be implemented,whereas FIG. 2 schematically illustrates functional features of themobile phone by means of a block diagram. It should be noted that theelements indicated in FIG. 2 does not necessarily have to be physicallydivided in the manner shown, and that it is the functional relationshipthat is of primary interest. Furthermore, the outer appearance of themobile phone need not take the indicated shape of FIG. 1, instead themobile phone may e.g. be of a clamshell type, a jack knife type, or thelike.

The media player is incorporated in a terminal 10, configured to operatein a radio communications network 30, by radio communication with a basestation 31, or by direct radio communication with another terminal as awalkie-talkie. The radio communications network 30 may e.g. be a 3Gnetwork, capable of providing streaming media from the Internet 32. Forstreaming audio, this is already available today through many mobilephone operators. For streaming video over the mobile network, onepossible technology is Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS)specified in 3GPP for use in WCDMA networks. Another alternative isBroadcast and Multicast Service (BCMCS) specified in 3GPP2 for CDMA2000.Both of these technologies are known and in many aspects similar to eachother, and may both be used for providing streaming video to mobileterminals over a 3G mobile phone network. The terms broadcast andmulticast are used alternatively, even though they do not mean exactlythe same thing. For video streaming of television channels over a 3Gnetwork using e.g. MBMS, multicast will most likely be used, as itgenerally would be a subscription service.

In addition, terminal 10 may be provided with a radio signal receiverconfigured to operate in a IEEE 802.11 WLAN to receive streaming mediaincluding audio and video from a WLAN transmitter, or access point, 40connected to the Internet 32.

As yet another option, terminal 10 may include a receiver for receivingbroadcast or multicast media signals from a broadcast station 50, suchas a radio station or a television station. For traditional radiotransmissions, headset cords have been used as antennas for receiving FMradio. For digital transmissions of video, DVB-h (Digital VideoBroadcasting-handheld) is a technology based on DVB, which has beenadopted by ETSI as a standard specification for bringing broadcastservices to handheld devices, is at least partly described in ETSI EN302 304. DVB-h is basically a mobile version of the digital technologyused in digital television networks. DMB (Digital MultimediaBroadcasting) is another digital transmission system for sending data,radio and TV to mobile devices such as mobile phones, whithout makinguse of the mobile phone network. It can operate via satellite (S-DMB) orterrestrial (T-DMB) transmission. DMB is based on the Eureka 147 DABstandard and has some similarities with DVB-h.

In summary, there are a number of different ways of receiving digitalmedia, both audio and video, which may be used in terminal 10. For thesake of simplicity, these may be referred to as different bearers,including the mobile phone network 30 e.g. using MBMS, an IEEE 802.11WLAN 40, and separately broadcast or multicast media e.g. using DVB-h orDMB.

The terminal 10 includes a user interface comprising an input part,preferably including a set of keys 11, and additionally or optionally atouch-sensitive display. An output part of the user interface includes adisplay 12 for presenting information to a terminal user. For thepurpose of conducting speech communication, terminal 10 furtherpreferably includes a microphone 13 and a speaker 14. Besides speaker14, an additional speaker 15 may be employed inter alia for the purposeof providing alert signals to a terminal user, and as a loudspeaker.Otherwise, or in addition, speakers for presenting audio, such as music,to a user are typically provided in the form of a headset which iscommunicatively connectable to the media player. In FIG. 2 an example ofa wireless headset 17 is shown, connectable by means of Bluetooth® orthe like to a radio signal transceiver 16. Furthermore, a wire-boundstereo headset 20 may be connected by means of a plug 19 into a socket18 of the media player.

FIG. 2 illustrates the terminal 10 in the form of a block diagram. Theactual function of terminal 10 as a mobile phone is not crucial to theinvention, and will therefore not be described in detail. A radio signalreceiver system 22, 23, 24 is included for reception of media signalsfrom on or more radio sources using different bearers. As an example, afirst radio receiver 22 includes an antenna and circuitry configured toreceive broadcast or multicast media over a digital radio bearer such asa digital radio network, a DVB-h network or a DBM network. A secondradio receiver 23 includes an antenna and circuitry configured toreceive broadcast or multicast media over the mobile phone network inwhich terminal 10 is configured to communicate, where the bearer may bean MBMS connection in a WCDMA network. Furthermore, terminal 10 mayinclude a third radio signal receiver 24 includes an antenna andcircuitry configured to receive media over a direct Internet connection,e.g. using IEEE 802.11 WLAN as bearer. It should be noted, though, thatin certain embodiments of the invention, the radio signal receiversystem need only include the possibility of receiving media over onesingle bearer, such as any one of the aforementioned. The radio signalreceiver system may also include only two different radio signalreceivers, or more than three different receivers configured to receivemedia over different bearers.

The radio signal receiver system, including receivers 22, 23, 24, isconnected to a controller 21, which in a preferred embodiment representsa microprocessor system with associated memory space, operationsoftware, and application software. The actual media player function isdenoted 28, and serves to transfer media signals to real media through aconverter, such as a speaker or a display, dependent on the type ofmedia. Media player 28 may therefore be connected to loudspeaker 15, orto connectors 16 or 18. Alternatively, media player 28 may be connectedto display 12 of the user interface, or to a connector for connection toan external display (not shown). A media file memory 29 is connected tomedia player 28, for storing media files. As a power supply, terminal 10preferably further includes a battery (not shown).

Controller 21 includes a media scanner 25, configured to scan the radiosignal receiver system 22, 23, 24 to detect certain predefined mediacontent. The predefinition of media content is stored as a list ofdifferent media options in a memory 27. The media options may e.g. be aplaylist of separate media items, such as songs or other audio tracks,video segments or movies. When media scanner 25 detects that mediacontent corresponding to a reference in the media options list is or isabout to be received by the radio signal receiver system 22, 23, 24,action is taken by the controller 21. In one example, controller 21 isconfigured to notify or alert a user of the terminal 10 that receptionof media content is possible. In another embodiment, controller 21 maybe configured to record and store a received media signal responsive todetection of reception of the media signal. These embodiment will bedescribed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

As an alternative, the media options list is a list of media channels,such as radio channels or television channels. Some or all of thesechannels may be received through two or more different radio receiverswithin the radio signal receiving system 22, 23, 24. However, thequality of reception may indeed be better through one type of signalreceiver than another. In fact, even if e.g. a certain radio channel isbroadcasted 50 and transmitted by streaming radio 40, both of theseoptions need not be accessible to a user at all times, e.g. due to badcoverage of one or the other system. This may also become the caseduring actual reception of a media signal. For instance, the user ofterminal 10 may be traveling in a car, while receiving a broadcastedradio channel by means for first signal receiver 22, when suddenly thereception is interrupted or severely deteriorated. In such a scenario,controller 21 is configured to scan the other signal receivers 23, 24for a transmission of the media channel in question, and may find thatstreaming media of the same channel is received by a second signalreceiver 23 through the radio communications network 30, or by a thirdradio signal receiver 24 through a WLAN 40. A channel or media selector26 of controller 21 then switches to receive streaming media of thechannel in question from the second signal receiver 23 instead, oralternatively the third radio signal receiver 24. Should neither thefirst radio signal receiver 22 be capable of receiving broadcast mediasignal, nor the second 23 or third 24 radio signal receivers be able toreceive streaming media, yet another option may be included, namely toreceive a podcast of the channel in question. The podcast may bepreviously downloaded to memory 29, or download may be automaticallyover initiated when The process is transparent to the user, even thoughthe switch may be audible, or viewable in the case of video. Inprinciple, the wireless media player according to this embodiment willact similar to RDS (Radio Data System) for VHF/FM broadcasting. A maindifference, though, is that while RDS switches between different antennastations, this embodiment scans different types of media transmission,and switches between the different types of radio transmission. For thespecific case of broadcasted radio transmission, RDS is preferably stilla first option to search for better sources of the channel in question,before a switch to another transmission type, such as streaming media,is executed by controller 21. In a preferred embodiment, the differenttypes of transmission or bearers are ranked in an order of preference,as will be described for a specific example further below with referenceto FIG. 5. Broadcasted media is typically free of charge, and maytherefore be a highest ranking choice. Streaming media may often beaccessible through the mobile operator, which generally means goodcoverage and high quality, to a monthly flat rate. Streaming media overthe mobile network 30 may therefore be set as a second ranking option.Streaming media over a WLAN 40 may be more expensive or less accessiblethan over the mobile network 30, and is therefore given an even lowerranking. Podcasting is not a real time transmission, and may thereforebe a lowest ranking choice. Preferably, though, these rankings can beset by the user through the user interface 11, 12 of the terminal 10.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates information of a playlist presented ona display 12 of a wireless media player, according to an embodiment ofthe invention. In this embodiment, the playlist is not a list entirelycomprising media items stored in the media player, as is the normalcase. Instead, it is a wish playlist, indicating media items the user isinterested in taking part of. In the illustrated embodiment the mediaitems are music tracks which the user currently favors, and the list maybe composed by the user by means of the user interface 11, 12. Fourdifferent media items are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, identified bymeans of title and artist. Other types of identification may be used forvideo items. In accordance with this embodiment, the wireless radioplayer is configured to run a background scanning process using mediascanner 25, to detect if any of the media items in the list are providedin a received radio signal. The media scanner 25 may be configured onlyto scan a radio signal receiver for one bearer, such as broadcastedmedia signals from stations 50, or streaming media signals from a mobilephone network 30 or through a WLAN 40. It may also be configured only toscan one radio channel, either from only one transmitter 31, 40 or 50,or to scan one particular channel as received from any of thosetransmitters. Preferably, though, media scanner 25 is configured to scaneither a plurality of radio channels as received by one particular radiosignal receiver, e.g. receiver 22, from one and the same transmitter, inthis case broadcast station 50, or the media scanner 25 is configured toscan a plurality of radio signal receivers 22, 23, 24 and a plurality ofradio channels received in those receivers, for detection in any ofthose receivers of a media item as identified in the list. The list asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is preferably stored in a memory 27 connected tothe media scanner 25. When a media item identified in the list isdetected by media scanner 25, controller 21 is configured to output anindication on the user interface, to alert the user of the media playerthat the item in question is accessible. The alert signal may be tohighlight the media item in question on display 12, e.g. by a frame asshown in FIG. 4, by using bold or differently colored letters, or byshowing only currently detected media items on the display.Alternatively, or in addition, an audible alert signal may be used, suchas a beep tone issued in a headset 17 or 20, or a built-in loudspeaker15. Upon noticing the alert signal, the user may then maneuver the userinput interface 11 to select one media item currently marked asdetected, responsive to which a media selector 25 is configured to passthe media signals received relating to that media item to media player28, for output to the user.

For broadcast media, the media signal is transmitted and received inreal time, and the media item is playable only when received. Therefore,tuning in to the detected media item may lead to only parts of the mediaitem being played if the first part of the item is missed. For thisreason, the media player may in one embodiment be set to an automaticplay mode, in which a first detected media item is automatically playedafter a preceding media item has finished.

For streaming media, though, the detection may be that the media item inquestion is accessible for streaming. However, initiation of thestreaming reception may be actively controlled by the media player.Streaming radio therefore provides a better tool for a virtual radiostation than broadcast media, since a new media item can be playedimmediately after a preceding media item is finished. When scanningseveral radio channels, and possibly also several types of bearers bymeans of different radio signal receivers 22, 23, 24, the situation maywell occur that several of the media items on the list aresimultaneously accessible. The user may then select which one to choose,by means of input interface 11 and media item selector 26.Alternatively, controller 21 may configured to run a random mode, inwhich one of a plurality of detected media items from the list israndomly selected by media selector 26 for output to the user.

Another feature is indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, namely a “buy” tag and a“store” tag, which may be set to different values by the user inputinterface 11 and by controller 21 dependent on changed status for acertain media item. In FIG. 3, the first media item is marked by a“saved” icon, meaning that this particular media item has already beenstored in a media item memory 29 in the media player. However, in orderto facilitate listening this item has still been introduced in the wishplaylist by the user, since the user wants to hear that track now andthen without having to continuously having to maneuver the inputinterface 11. For e.g. contemporary music, the chance of a music trackbeing accessible for reception by the media player is typically quitegood. However, the third item is an older piece, and is not played asfrequently. For this reason, the user has operated the user inputinterface to tag the store section. By doing so, media player 28 isconfigured to automatically store the media signal of that track inmedia file memory 29, when it has been detected by media scanner 25 thatthis track is accessible. When it has been stored, controller 21 willalter the tag in the store section to the icon representing saved, asshown for the first media item. If the quality of the stored item ispoor, it may also be possible to tag the buy section using the userinput interface 11, as shown for the fourth media item. Such taggingpreferably triggers the media player to download the media item from anetwork server (not shown). Typically, a financial transaction is alsoinvolved, which may be cleared by billing or through a standard rate.Needless to say, it is preferably also possible to tag the buy sectionbefore the media item is stored from a received streaming radio signal.

The present invention therefore provides a time-saving and economicallybeneficial way of creating playlists of music which need not be locallyaccessible in the media player. When s song is streamed in a 3G network,information about the song (title, artist, album etc) is sent along withthat song. Also when a song is broadcasted over FM, same kind ofinformation (title, artist, album etc) could be sent over RDS, whichsome radio stations already do. The proposed solution acts as a wishplaylist function in the media player, and the list of items may as suchbe an individually composed list with songs the user wants to hear, orthe list may have been shared to the user. Preferably, all availablestreaming music channels (3G/Internet channels) are continuouslyscanned, and when possible also the FM channels. When a song on the listis played on one of the channels, the music player automaticallyindicates to the user that the song is available or accessible to listento. For example the song could be presented in the ordinary play list inbold red text together with a beep tone in the headsets, if the mediaplayer is already used for listening to another music item at themoment.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of theinvention. The flow chart refers to media options as a general term,which may be a media channel, such as a radio channel or a televisionchannel. Alternatively, the media options may represent specific mediaitems, such as music tracks, radio or television shows, movies, and soon. As yet another alternative, the media options may be differentpodcasts, such as magazines or radio programs.

Specific embodiments directed to mobile television will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. It is to be understood that the methodas such is preferably carried out by a user operating his or herterminal 10, such as a mobile phone, by means of which a radio signalrepresenting selected media is received and subsequently presented, on abuilt in or communicatively attached presentation device, such asdisplay 12 or a speaker 14, 17, 20.

In one embodiment, the mobile terminal is configured to receive andpresent video. Terminal 10 is operable to enter a TV mode, in whichdifferent television channels may be selected. In the television mode, anumber of different TV channels are separately selectable. This may beachieved by assigning number buttons on the keypad 11 such that eachnumber represents one television channel. Thus, a channel may beassociated with a specific key of the wireless media player, independentof the type of signal receiver/bearer.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a mobile phone configured to receiveand present video with shortcut keys. As an example, key “1” may beconfigured to always mean MTV, key “2” representing CNN, key “3”representing BBC, key “4” representing SVT1, key “5” representing SVT2,key “6” representing TV3, and so on. This configuration may bepre-stored by a mobile phone operator, or the user may program thesekeys by him- or herself similar to speed dial buttons. Preferably, iconsare presented simultaneously on the display 12.

FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically illustrate a mobile phone configured toreceive and present video with shortcut keys presented on a touchscreen. As an alternative to using the keys of keypad 11, separate iconsmay instead be provided on display 12, preferably with the specific TVchannel labels. Each channel may then be selected either by having atouch-sensitive display 12 operated by means of a stylus or by using afinger, or by means of a navigation tool, such as a joy stick.

In step 501, the user wanting to catch the news from CNN selects that TVchannel by the appropriate input command, i.e. by pressing the linkednumber key or by clicking an icon on display 12 representing thatchannel, and the input is detected by controller 21 in terminal 10.Being in the TV mode, controller 21 also recognizes that the selectionmade represents CNN.

In step 502, the radio signal receiver system of the terminal is scannedfor a radio signal containing TV channel CNN. Terminal 10 is configuredto receive TV channels over at least two different bearers as previouslydescribed, such as in a DVB-h or DMB receiver 22, in a mobilecommunication receiver 23 for reception of media on a MBMS bearer, or ina WLAN receiver 24 connectable to a WLAN access point. Through at leastthe two latter receivers 23, 24, podcasts may also be received, whichmay be defined as yet another bearer type.

In step 503, it has been established how many different bearers areaccessible for providing the selected media, i.e. TV channel CNN. Ifnone of the currently accessible bearers can provide CNN, the process itterminated, preferably by presenting a “no access” message or the liketo the user on display 12, as is shown in FIG. 8. If only one bearer,e.g. an MBMS TV link to the mobile network 30, is determined to becapable of providing the selected media, the media in question ispreferably automatically accessed and presented to the user on display12 in step 507. If a separate fee is required for accessing the selectedmedia, the user may be prompted to give a go ahead signal beforeinitiating streaming and presentation in step 507.

If the scanning determines that two or more different bearers arecapable of providing the selected media, some form of selection ofbearer must be made.

In alternative (A) shown in FIG. 5, a specific order of preference forthe different bearers is stored in the terminal 10, e.g. in memory 27 ofcontroller 21. Again, the order of preference may be pre-stored by anoperator of phone manufacturer. Alternatively, and perhaps evenpreferably, the order of preference may be created or at least changedby the user of the terminal. As an example, a highest or first prioritymay be given to broadcast or multicast media over a mobile TV network,such as DVB-h, which is often free of charge. MBMS streaming TV over thephone network 30 may have a second priority, and streaming video overWLAN 40 may have third priority, since it generally provides smallercoverage than a terrestrial TV broadcasting or multicasting network 50and a mobile phone network 30. A podcast of the media channel may havefourth, and lowest, priority, regardless of whether it is accessiblethrough the phone network 30 or a WLAN connection 40. Needless to say,these examples of priority levels may be different than those mentioned,and may also differ for different media channels. The user may e.g. havea subscription to the mobile phone operator which provides certain TVchannels for free, only charging for the traffic, and other channels foran extra fee. This may affect the priority given to that media channel.

In step 504, the order of preference stored in memory 27 is followed bymedia selector 26, such that the accessible media channel with highestpriority is selected. In this example, this means that if CNN isdetected to be accessible from a DVB-h receiver, that radio signal willbe selected, and subsequently presented in FIG. 507. The bearer actuallyselected by media selector 26 may also be presented on display 12.

Should the selected signal to receive loose quality or even disappear,as indicated in step 508, control unit 21 returns to step 504 andselects the highest ranking accessible radio signal bearer instead. Theswitch may not go un-noticed, but still provides suitable means for theuser to carry on watching the selected TV channel.

As a solution (B), alternative to automatic selection of bearer, thepresently accessible bearers detected by media scanner 25 may bepresented on display 12, as shown in step 505. The user may then decidewhich bearer to use by operating the user input, which is detected bycontrol unit 21 in step 506, upon which media selector 26 provides theselected media signal for presentation in step 507. Though not shown,also this alternative may include a return loop from step 507 to step505, should the selected signal become poor or disappear.

The embodiment as described with reference to FIG. 5 thereby provides asimple user interface for handling mobile media reception andpresentation, such as mobile television, by always providing certain TVchannels, or for that matter radio channels, on specified buttons oricons, in a transparent way that makes use of different bearers withoutthe need for substantive user interaction.

A number of different specific embodiments of the invention can beobtained by minor adjustments of the method presented with reference toFIG. 5, as already mentioned. For one thing, the media option need notrelate to video, but may instead be a radio channel. For radio,broadcasted FM radio may also be one bearer to scan. Furthermore,instead of a channel, the media item may refer to a particular item,such as a show, a track, a movie and so on.

In another embodiment, the invention does not have to include pre-storedkeys or icons representing media options. Instead, a form of searchengine may be included, in which it is possible to write a title of asong, show or movie, or the name of an artist or an album, and so on. Bytyping e.g. “Seinfeld”, the radio signal receivers may be scanned forthat show. In one embodiment, it is also possible to specify what typeof search word is typed, such as TV channel, radio channel, song, movie,podcast, artist, album, and so on.

As previously mentioned, the process of FIG. 5 may in the presentationstep 507 be combined with storing of the selected media option in amemory in the terminal, either automatically or upon command from theuser. In one embodiment, the stored media is DRM protected, such that itmay only be played in the receiving terminal 10, but may not be sharedby transmission to other terminals.

The principles of the present invention have been described in theforegoing by examples of embodiments or modes of operations. However,the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particularembodiments discussed above, which are to be regarded as illustrativerather than restrictive, and it should be appreciated that variationsmay be made in those embodiments by persons skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as defined by theappended claims.

We claim:
 1. A wireless device, comprising: a media player; a radiosignal receiver system configured to receive media signals; a controllercomprising a memory comprising a list of different media options, and amedia scanner configured to scan the radio signal receiver system todetect media content associated with the media options.
 2. The wirelessdevice of claim 1, comprising: a user interface, wherein the controlleris configured to output an alert signal through the user interface toindicate that media content associated with the media options list hasbeen detected by the media scanner.
 3. The wireless device of claim 1,wherein the media options includes a plurality of different mediachannels, the device comprising: a user interface including a displayoperable to present a list of media channels, wherein the controller isconfigured to highlight a media channel on the display responsive to themedia scanner detecting reception of that media channel.
 4. The wirelessdevice of claim 3, wherein the media channels include radio channels. 5.The wireless device of claim 3, wherein the media channels include videochannels.
 6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the media optionsincludes a plurality of different media items, the device comprising: auser interface including a display operable to present a list of mediaitems, wherein the controller is configured to highlight a media item onthe display responsive to the media scanner detecting reception of thatmedia item.
 7. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the media itemsinclude audio tracks.
 8. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein themedia items include video tracks.
 9. The wireless device of claim 1,comprising a media recorder configurable to automatically record a mediaitem identified in the media options list, upon the controller detectingreception of that media item.
 10. The wireless device of claim 9,wherein the controller is configured to add a link in the media optionslist to the recorded media item.
 11. The wireless device of claim 1,comprising: a user interface operable to add a buy tag to a media itemin the media options list, wherein the controller is configured toaccess a media store through the media receiver system to download mediadata corresponding to media items marked by a buy tag.
 12. The wirelessdevice of claim 1, comprising a media output configured to presentreceived media to a user.
 13. The wireless device of claim 10, whereinthe media output comprises a display.
 14. The wireless device of claim10, wherein the media output comprises a speaker.
 15. The wirelessdevice of claim 10, wherein the media output comprises a connector to anexternal media presentation device.
 16. The wireless device of claim 1,wherein the radio signal receiver system comprises a plurality ofdifferent radio signal receivers configured to receive different typesradio transmission.
 17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein theplurality of different radio signal receivers are configured to receivemedia signals in different radio bands.
 18. The wireless device of claim16, wherein the plurality of radio signal receivers comprises: a firstradio signal receiver configured to receive broadcast media; a secondradio signal receiver configured to receive streaming media.
 19. Thewireless device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of radio signalreceivers comprises: a radio signal receiver configured to receivepodcast media.
 20. The wireless device of claim 16, comprising: a userinterface operable to select a media channel from the list of mediaoptions; a channel selector connected to the media scanner, configuredto select reception of the media channel from one of the radio signalreceivers.
 21. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein a media channelis associated with a specific key of the wireless device, independent ofthe type of radio signal receiver.
 22. The wireless device of claim 20,wherein the channel selector is configured to select radio signalreceiver for reception of the media channel in a preset order ofpreference.
 23. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein the channelselector is configured to look for reception of a broadcast FM radiosignal as a higher ranking choice, a streamed media signal as a lowerranking choice.
 24. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the channelselector is configured to look for reception of a podcast media signal,as a lower ranking choice than a streamed media signal.
 25. Method foraccessing a media channel in a wireless media player, comprising thesteps of: providing a list of different media options, where each optionincludes a media channel; selecting a media channel to present;receiving the media channel through a plurality of different types ofradio signal receivers; selecting one of said different types of radiosignal receivers in accordance with stored selection criteria;presenting the media channel as received the selected radio signalreceiver.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein a media channel isassociated with a specific key of the wireless media player, independentof the type of radio signal receiver.
 27. The method of claim 25,wherein the step of selecting one of said different types of radiosignal receivers includes the steps of: selecting a broadcasted signalof the media channel as a higher ranking choice, and selecting astreaming media signal of the media channel as a lower ranking choice.28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of selecting one of saiddifferent types of radio signal receivers includes the steps of:selecting a broadcasted signal of the media channel as a highest rankingchoice, selecting a streaming media signal of the media channel receivedthrough a mobile telephony network as a second ranking choice.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein the step of selecting one of said differenttypes of radio signal receivers includes the steps of: selecting astreaming media signal of the media channel received through a WLAN as athird ranking choice.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step ofselecting one of said different types of radio signal receivers includesthe steps of: selecting a podcast of the media channel as a lowestranking choice.
 31. The method of claim 25, comprising the step of:scanning said plurality of different types of radio signal receivers forthe selected media channel.
 32. Method for accessing a media channel ina wireless media player, comprising the steps of: providing a playlistof different media options, where each option includes a media item;detecting access to one of the media items of the playlist channelthrough a radio signal receiver; outputting an access indication signalon a user interface to alert a user that said media item is accessible.33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of outputting an accessindication signal comprises the step of: presenting a highlightedindication of said media item on a display.
 34. The method of claim 32,wherein a media item is associated with a specific key of the wirelessmedia player, independent of the type of radio signal receiver.
 35. Themethod of claim 32, wherein the step of outputting an access indicationsignal comprises the step of: outputting an audible alert signal. 36.The method of claim 32, wherein the step of detecting access comprisesthe steps of: scanning a plurality of different types of radio signalreceivers for access to media items of the playlist.
 37. The method ofclaim 32, wherein the step of detecting access comprises the steps of:scanning a plurality of different media channels for access to mediaitems of the playlist.
 38. Method for accessing media channel in awireless media player, comprising the steps of: providing a playlist ofdifferent media options, where each option includes a media item;detecting access to one of the media items of the playlist channelthrough a streaming radio signal receiver; recording the media item to amedia file memory responsive to detecting access.